[IndyMedia Bombay] Aman Ekta Manch: Jagannath Yatra Amhedabad

[PUKAR @ IndyMedia]

From: "Aman Ekta Manch" <peopleforpeace@rediffmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 06, 2002 1:08 PM
Subject: TWO PROTEST ACTIONS ON RATH YATRA

Friends,

You would be aware that while the Gujarat government has called off 
the Gaurav Rath Yatra of Narendra Modi, the Jagannath Rath yatra on 
July 12 continues to pose a grave threat to lives and general 
security in Ahmedabad. While this Yatra is 125 years old, the VHP has 
for many years been using it in the service of its own agenda. As a 
result the Yatra, passing with often provocative slogans through 
several Muslim localities, has been the flashpoint of serious 
incidents of communal violence especially in 1985 and 1992. This year 
we fear the Yatra promises to be more bloody than ever, particularly 
in the light of Ashok Singhal's threat, issued on June 22 at the VHP 
Margdarshak Mandal, that all Indian Muslims will henceforth have to 
live in refugee camps as in Gujarat.

The Aman Ekta Manch has tried since mid-June to raise this issue at 
several levels, through letters to the editor and by approaching 
three ex-Prime Ministers to write letters to A B Vajpayee appealing 
to him to ensure peace in Ahmedabad. In addition, a Memorandum is to 
be submitted to the PM by Aman Ekta Manch on Monday.

Two further immediate actions are planned:
1. Mass faxing and e-mailing of letters to the Prime Minister's 
Office by concerned individuals and organizations. The suggested text 
of the message is given at the end of the letter. Please deluge the 
PMO with faxes or e-mails or both by Monday/Tuesday.

The fax numbers are: (011) 3019334, 3016857, 3019545 and the e-mail 
ids are: vajpayee@sansad.nic.in, pmosb@pmo.nic.in

2. A daylong dharna on July 9 (Tuesday) in front of the office of the 
Resident Commissioner of Gujarat in Delhi. (This office is located 
above the Gujarat government emporium "Gurjari" on Baba Kharak Singh 
Marg.) The dharna will be from 10 am to 6 pm. Please try to commit to 
stay for the whole day. If this is absolutely not possible, do stay 
either from 10am to 2pm or from 2pm to 6pm. Please mobilise as many 
people as you can. We request this commitment from one another to 
ensure that a sizeable number of people are on dharna at all times 
during the day.

A memorandum will be submitted to the RC at the end of the dharna.

Please come with plays and songs, placards, etc.

Aman Ekta Manch

Suggested Text of the letter to the PM:

It is reported that the decision to call off the Gaurav Rath Yatras 
in Gujarat was because of apprehension by the National Human Rights 
Commission of large-scale violence and taking into view intelligence 
reports of the possibility of violence.

Are these apprehensions and reports not true of the July 12 
Jagannnath Rath Yatra too, particularly given the fact that this 
yatra is to pass through the sensitive areas of Ahmedabad?

In the above context, if there is any damage to life and property 
during the course of the Rath Yatra on July 12 or after, you, as 
Prime Minister, and your government will be held wholly responsible 
and accountable by the people of India and in the court of world 
opinion. I appeal to you to take immediate steps to restore 
confidence and ensure peace in Ahmedabad.
_____

PUKAR (Partners for Urban Knowledge Action & Research)
P.O. Box 5627
Dadar, Mumbai 400014, India
E-Mail <pukarsecretariat@vsnl.net>
Phone +91 (022) 2077779, +91 98200.45529, +91 98204.04010
Web Site http://www.pukar.org.in/